As soon as the Black supervisor finished speaking, the alluring Inessa interrupted: "I'm not interested in a small organization without even a Level 4 mutant. Boss, please send someone else."
Despite her provocative attire that revealed considerable fair skin—an appearance that would typically draw male attention—none of the men in the conference room gave her a second glance.
Even as she spoke, no one, including the supervisor, made eye contact with her.
Others might be unaware of Inessa's abilities and fall victim to her charms, but the men in this conference room knew better.
They understood that even momentary eye contact with Inessa could subject them to her mutant power.
"This isn't a discussion," the supervisor replied evenly. "These are the branch director's orders."
"If you have objections, take them up with the director yourself."
Hearing the supervisor's words, the natural seductive expression on Inessa's face instantly vanished.
"Since these are the branch director's orders, I'll comply."
Without another word, she stood and exited the conference room.
Slater and Bourne rose and followed shortly after.
Santa Ana, California.
After setting the manor ablaze, Richard drove to Santa Ana.
Santa Ana was a city in Orange County in Southern California, located southeast of Los Angeles, only thirty-four miles away.
Though now an unregistered mutant—a criminal under current legislation—Richard had no intention of hiding in some remote location.
In fact, he planned to settle directly in Los Angeles.
The most dangerous place is often the safest!
Los Angeles housed more mutants than anywhere else in California.
Though the state's largest Department of Mutant Affairs branch operated there, countless unregistered mutants successfully hid within the sprawling metropolis.
Richard's strategy was straightforward: establish himself in Los Angeles, enhance his powers, and seek opportunities to plunder more mutant abilities.
With sufficient power, even his unregistered status would become irrelevant.
Magneto exemplified this principle perfectly.
The entire world knew Magneto as an unregistered mutant and the militant leader of anti-government mutant factions.
Yet the U.S. government remained powerless against him.
They couldn't bring him to justice, nor could they dismantle his Brotherhood of Mutants.
Upon reaching Santa Ana, Richard sold his Ford pickup for over $2,000 cash.
He then located a 24-hour diner where he could have lunch and contemplate his next move.
The original Richard's father had been captured by the Department of Mutant Affairs.
This meant both Richard and "Crimson Manor" had been compromised.
Though the father would never voluntarily betray information, the Department had ways of extracting it involuntarily.
They could simply employ a telepathic mutant to extract everything needed.
By now, all the original father's assets had likely been frozen or placed under surveillance.
This didn't particularly trouble Richard, however.
While his bank accounts might be inaccessible, he had looted all cash and valuables from the manor's safes before setting it ablaze, storing everything in his system space.
As long as he avoided using his previous bank cards, he could evade detection by the Department.
Of course, this assumed they hadn't already issued a warrant for his arrest.
If they had, even cash transactions carried exposure risks.
In this world, discrimination against mutants was severe. Fueled by government propaganda, the prejudice mutants faced rivaled that endured by enslaved people throughout history.
Shortly after taking his seat, a server brought Richard's order.
Hot dogs, bacon, fried eggs, french fries, hamburgers...
Surveying the quintessentially American meal before him, Richard began his first post-transmigration feast.
As he ate, he contemplated whether joining an established mutant organization might provide temporary security.
Before achieving true power, organizational affiliation offered certain advantages.
However, he quickly dismissed the notion.
Small mutant organizations weren't worth joining.
As for renowned groups like the X-Men or Brotherhood of Mutants?
Many aspired to join these organizations, but few succeeded.
The X-Men weren't an organization one joined on a whim.
Everyone knew Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in Westchester, New York served as the X-Men's headquarters.
But neither the X-Men nor the school welcomed unregistered and killer mutants like Richard.
Regarding the Brotherhood of Mutants?
Even government officials couldn't locate their headquarters, let alone ordinary citizens.
Otherwise, the government would have eliminated the "terrorist organization" long ago.
Forget it!
Self-reliance is the better path.
Richard abandoned thoughts of joining established groups and focused on finishing his meal.
As he neared completion, the restaurant door swung open. A rugged, feral-looking middle-aged man entered, accompanied by a strikingly beautiful teenage girl who could rival any Hollywood star.
Though seeing them for the first time, Richard immediately recognized both individuals.
Victor Creed—Sabretooth!
And Clarice Ferguson—Blink!
Both Sabretooth and Blink appeared nearly identical to their film counterparts.
The only difference was that this Blink appeared significantly younger than her "Days of Future Past" version.
Upon seeing Blink, an unbidden thought crossed Richard's mind:
"She single-handedly defined beauty standards across continents with her striking features!"
After discovering his transmigration to the Marvel Universe, Richard knew he would eventually encounter characters from films and comics.
He hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
Despite his surprise, Richard made no attempt to approach Sabretooth or Blink.
He couldn't deny Blink's extraordinary beauty.
But he remembered his current limitations—a Beta-level mutant with merely "adequate" strength.
Even if he harbored ambitions to build a harem like other transmigration protagonists, that remained a distant concern.
Women would only slow his ascension to power!
He wouldn't waste time pursuing romantic entanglements until he possessed overwhelming strength—until he could, for example, carve a path from the White House to the Pentagon and back with his Masamune, for days on end, without breaking a sweat.
Though Richard had no intention of approaching the intimidating Sabretooth or the captivating Blink, Sabretooth's animal instincts immediately detected Richard's gaze upon them.
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